Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art to Host Workshop with Local Ceramicist Ken Kohoutek

Great Falls-based Artist Ken Kohoutek Photo courtesy of Ken Kohoutek Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art (The Square) will host a guest artist Lecture and Workshop with Great Falls-based artist, Ken Kohoutek titled Painting with Glaze on Clay Tiles. The program will begin with apreparatory lecture on Tuesday, February 18th from 5:30 – 6:30pm, followed by the workshop on Saturday, 12pm – 4pm. Kohoutek would like all attendees of the workshop to attend the lecture earlier that week so that they can use the most of the four hours on Saturday. The program is at 1400 1st Ave North, Great Falls, Montana, and registration is $85 per person. This Workshop will include a tour of Ken Kohoutek's exhibition and an introductory class in painting with underglazes on clay tiles. Utilizing a theme of storytelling, participants will create realistic or abstract images including layers of colors and patterns. There will be an option of working with black and white underglazes as well. Each student will be able to create compositions with four 4-inch tiles. Priorexperience in ceramics or glazing is not required. Students must be 18 years or older to register. The workshop is offered in conjunction with Puzzled Paradise: Ceramic Chronicles by Ken Kohoutek, a new exhibition on view at The Square through April 12th, 2025. Those interested in attending the workshop can sign up online using The Square’s registration portal, https://the-square.corsizio.com, by calling the museum Gift Shop at 406-727-8255, or stopping by the museum at 1400 1st Ave North in Great Falls. Those with questions can contact Liz Slot, Education Director at liz@the-square.org. About Puzzled Paradise: Ceramic Chronicles by Ken Kohoutek:The body of work on exhibit is the culmination of 8 years of creative expression for the artist. In Puzzled Paradise: Ceramic Chronicles by Ken Kohoutek, the viewer can expect to be thrilled and entertained by an aesthetic that is childlike, 1980’s retro, and futuristic. The imagery is evocative of everyday life experiences expressed through commercial logos, television or movies references, mundane daily events like making morning coffee, or engrained memories of a family trip and recurring dreams. Kitschy and confused are another way of describing the collaged, bright, and minutely detailed compositions. Kohoutek’s postmodern aesthetic laid bare on ceramic tiles and amorphic vessels reminds us of design and color familiar to the Memphis Group, which has an appeal that is a pastiche of thrift store aesthetics including clashing patterns with colors, and wackiness, combined with figuration and autobiographical storytelling. The presentation of Kohoutek’s work at the museum brings the community an importantopportunity to engage in a visual conversation with a significant local ceramic artist whose work is curious and engaging. This exhibition is curated by Nicole Maria Evans, Chief Curator & Director of Curatorial Affairs at Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art. Exhibitions at the museum are supported in part by the Montana Arts Council, a state agency funded by the State of Montana, and the National Endowment for the Arts. We are funded in part by coal severance taxes paid based upon coal mined in Montana and deposited in Montana's cultural and aesthetic projects trust fund. Additional funding is provided by museum members and the citizens of Cascade County, Davidson Family Foundation, D.A. Davidson, Montana Credit Union, Hotel Arvon, First Interstate Bank, an anonymous donor, and Kelly’s Signs & Design. Large Covered Jar Photo courtesy of Ken Kohoutek About Paris Gibson Square Museum of ArtParis Gibson Square Museum of Art (The Square) is north-central Montana’s only contemporary art museum. Founded in 1977 and located in Great Falls, Montana, the museum resides in and stewards the original 1896 building of the historic Central High School. The Square is known for exhibitions that feature intriguing outsider and contemporary living artists in conjunction with exciting exhibition programs andstudio art classes to the community. General InformationParis Gibson Square Museum of Art is located at 1400 1st Avenue North, Great Falls, Montana. Admission is FREE to the public, donations are greatly appreciated. Visitor hours: Tuesday 10am to 9pm, Wednesday through Friday 10am to 5pm, and Saturday from 10pm to 3pm, Sunday and Monday closed. Closed on select holidays. Visit www.the-square.org or call 406.727.8255 for further information.